Bone Broth for Healthy Bones and Ageless Skin

One word — collagen

Collagen is in the gelatin that forms when bone broth cools. It is derived from slow-cooking animal bones and connective tissue. Collagen is a main building block to bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and your skin.

Bones decrease in density as we age and can lead to osteoporosis. Connective tissue can deteriorate through wear and tear, stiffen from loss of water, and can lead to osteoarthritis. There are also other age-related diseases that can affect your bones, joints, and tissues.

Skin ages because of internal and external factors. The internal factors are atrophy of the skin from the loss of collagen, breakdown of elastin (protein that helps skin retain its shape), and dehydration. The external factors are the environment (sun, wind, pollutants, etc.) and stress.

When you drink bone broth you are giving yourself the collagen your bones, connective tissues, and skin need to stay healthy, strong, and ageless.

You will also maintain bone density and connective tissue strength with walking and strength training. Do it all — including drinking plenty of water — and be proactive in keeping your ageless lifestyle.

Two words — chondroitin and glucosamine

Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are natural elements found in connective tissue. Think of these as the “food & water” to your joints. As you age, your body’s ability to make these substances may lessen, so supplement with natural bone broth.

Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus help build sturdy bones. It is important for post-menopausal women to keep these substances in balance to keep their bones and posture ideal.

Glycine, proline, and arginine are amino acids that have anti-inflammatory effects keeping the body well and disease free. Think of inflammation as catnip to disease and pain — they thrive under such conditions.

Inflammation happens when the body is injured or has an infection. Consuming foods such as wheat, processed, and fried foods also promote inflammation within the body. Drink bone broth to fight inflammation.

What else is bone broth good for?

Bone broth supports a healthy immune system.

Bone broth is a hydrophilic colloid, it “heals and seals,” improves digestion, and gives you a healthy gut.

Bone broth has glycine, which can have calming effects on the body to help you relax and sleep better.

Chicken broth fights the common cold. It contains cysteine, an amino acid that thins the mucus in your lungs so you get well faster.

Gelatin from bone broth is key to healthy hair and nails.

No doubt about it, bone broth is a super food!

Is all bone broth the same?

NO.

Ideally, you want to make your bone broth from organic, grass-fed, and pasture-raised animals because it is healthier. CAFO (confined animal feeding operations) animals are widely known to eat questionable food, are loaded with antibiotics, and subjected to unhealthy living conditions.

Also, store-bought broth or “stock” is not the same as you can see from the lack of gelatin when cooking with it . (If it don’t jiggle like jello — it ain’t the same thing!)

My cookbook

At the time I wrote the book, I was in my infancy in learning how to cook Paleo meals. I wanted to transform my mom’s cooking into Paleo approved recipes. I also wanted it to be “easy” enough to use for a newbie such as me and so I said in the book, for a quick substitute, use store-bought broth.

Now that I’ve cooked for a few years, I totally recommend making your own because it is much more beneficial. With that said, many times I end up using both.

If I don’t have hours and hours to cook, I put organic broth along with grass-fed, pasture-raised meat and bones and cook them together. The longer you cook them, the better. This method can still produce the healthy gelatin your body needs!